Chapter Twenty-Seven

Grazia is sleeping on my chest as I wake up.

I look around and smile.

I'm in my room, at my house, with my fiancé.

Her naked body is only just covered by a sheet, and I trace my finger down her arm and across her back, indulging in this moment of bliss.

She looks peaceful, with her soft skin and her dark hair spilling across my chest. Her chest rises slowly as she breathes deeply.

I decided to bring her back to this house, showing her that this is real, and she is no longer my prisoner.

We made love last night, in the cabana, and then again back at the beach house, and once more after we got into this bed.

It was soft, just like her skin, and slow and purposeful. I cannot be sure that I've ever had that experience with another woman.

Before we fell asleep, we spoke about how we want our lives to be.

Grazia told me about her dream wedding, and I gave her a brief breakdown of what I would like us to do in the next few years.

She broke down when she spoke about her family and how they might not want to be a part of this day, but I promised her that I would do my best to make sure that they are at the wedding so she could try to make things right with them again.

Family is important, even though I have my own issues with Luca specifically.

If he ever tries to draw his gun on me again he's not going to be walking away. However, I want her to have this.

After what felt like the most special night we've had so far, she fell asleep in almost the same position she's in right now, holding onto me tightly.

Now, waking up next to her feels so right, somehow.

Things are so different from how they were only a couple of weeks ago, when waking up next to her felt like a kind of betrayal.

I think back to the night of her brother's wedding and how I could have had all of this so much sooner if I hadn't been thinking with my greed.

The only goal I have now is to make this life everything that Grazia hopes it will be.

I might not have everything that I wanted from the Baldinis, but ending up married to Grazia seems like a good enough deal.

Plus, with Grazia's plan, we can make our own fortune, even without the trade routes.

She knows more than enough about the landscape of our work in the US, and even about the drug market, for us to take over a large portion of the product movement without actually overtaking the Baldinis.

Things are falling into place, I think to myself as I stare at the ring on Grazia's hand.

There's an odd feeling of protectiveness that I feel towards her now, wanting her to be as happy as she was last night and every day of her life from here on.

In my office, I sit listening to Grazia planning the wedding.

I am here to attempt to help, but we both know that I can't really do much more than offer the money to pay for whatever she wants.

She has brilliant ideas already, and only needs a "yes" from me.

I want this to be a day she remembers as being full of love and worth all of the trouble I have caused her so far.

There will still be trouble in the future, just because of who I am. She doesn't seem bothered about that, though, while she's picking out flowers and colors and a cake flavor.

I've never seen myself doing a big and elaborate wedding, so there isn't much that I can help with.

I gave her a couple Mexican songs to add to the playlist, and helped her with some traditions that we can do during the ceremony, but otherwise, she has put me in charge of the invites and getting guests to the wedding, so this is what I am doing.

Not that I have ever thought of myself as a designer, but these wedding invitations are not looking bad.

Grazia sketched the two of us together, since we don't have any actual photos of us, and I'm not one for photoshoots. Then I used the computer to put it all together in a digital format.

We've decided that there's no point in waiting too long, but I've given Grazia two months to plan things.

Until then, we'll live in this house and get used to each other.

I'll let her help me redecorate so that she feels more at home, and I'll show her parts of Mexico that I know she'll love.

I desperately want to fix her memories of this place —to take away some of the bad and replace it with good.

I've spoken to Carlos, and he's so happy about a reason to celebrate with our family that we're both ignoring all of the animosity that was between us just a few days ago.

I send out the invitations to Carlos, his family, and a few of the other men and women we work closely with.

This is my family, and despite their flaws, I know that they will show up for me and bless our marriage.

Then I send invites over to Luca and Enzo, not so sure that they will come, and doubting they will be blessing any part of this union.

Grazia has hope, though, that they will see that none of this was a grand scheme, and we really did just fall for each other when we least expected it.

So, I send the invites and I will let them decide whether their sister means enough to them to put their issues aside for a day and celebrate with her.

When that's done, I scoop Grazia up and take her out for a drive to the beach.

This has become something we do almost every day, to decompress after whatever we've dealt with, and help keep us focused on the wedding and the good times.

I've arranged a few renovations and a full remodel on the beach house, so that when I take Grazia back there after we're married, it won't hold any of the old darkness from her time as a prisoner there.

I want the house to be her sanctuary, an escape from the ugliness of our world whenever she feels like she needs it.

For now, we have the sand, the sea, and the sunsets to enjoy together.

My week has been going suspiciously well, with all our runs happening smoothly and no one fucking up.

I'm out to fetch a suit and pick up a gift for Grazia, because I am still amazed that she even said yes.

And even now that she's free, the sex has been amazing, showing me that she wasn't just faking it to trick me into letting her escape.

I've asked her about her dress, but she's hoping to find one with her family, even though they have yet to reply to the invitation.

I haven't even heard from them about the deal, but I have my contacts moving forward on our plan.

And if this wedding helps to bring our families together, it will only make us all richer.

When my phone rings, and I see it's Luca Baldini, I sigh in defeat.

The easy and good times never last very long.

I think about ignoring him at first. Perhaps I'll call him back when I'm less likely to ruin my day by speaking to him.

But on the fifth ring, I figure I may as well get it over with.

"Luca," I answer, my voice sounding as tired as I feel.

I am not in the mood for this man's attitude today. If he starts a fight, I know that I'll just hang up on him.

There isn't much else I can do from so far away, although I would still like to teach Luca a lesson and just land one punch.

"Marco. I've just received an invitation for a wedding, that has your name and my sister's on it."

He's on the brink of yelling, but containing himself well. So I decide to continue speaking to him, for now.

"Can you tell me what the fuck is going on? Is this your next big plan? Force my sister to marry you so that you can get your dirty fingers in the Baldini pot? Do you think this is the next best way to steal our money and business? I can assure you, Marco, this isn't going to work the way you think it will."

He's treading dangerously close to me exploding on him, but I take a breath and try to reason with him, for Grazia's sake only.

"Firstly, Luca, some respect when you speak to me would be appreciated. And secondly, no. This is not part of any kind of plan or scam. Your sister and I are getting married because we want to. It actually has nothing to do with business or you, believe it or not. I'm not forcing her. She was proposed to, and she said yes. And I thought you would want to be there for her. She would very much like for her family to show up and celebrate with her. Even though you deserted her here."

I remain calm to avoid causing any more drama in this situation, but I want him to know that I'm not taking any shit.

I know Grazia wants her brothers to attend the wedding, and I don't want her to be sad on her special day.

So, if I have to kiss Luca's ass for a day, I will do it for her.

But if he continues to provoke me, I won't have an issue shutting him up. I only worry about what that will do to what Grazia and I are busy building.

Would she still want to be my wife if Luca and I simply can't get along?

Luca is quiet for a few minutes, probably digesting what I've said, then he speaks.

"If this is true, then we will come to support our sister. But I need to speak to her first, to know it's not a trick. And if I find out that you're forcing her, I will personally come and do much worse to you, Marco."

I give him the number for the phone inside the house, where Grazia is.

"Before making threats, you should get the right story, Luca. But I am not here to fight with you now. Please do speak to her. Your sister misses you and would like to fix things with her family. I am only interested in making her happy."

I put the phone down before he can say anything to bring my blood pressure up, and finish up the work I was dealing with, feeling like I need another run now.

At least Luca is willing to think about coming. I know that this will make Grazia happy, which makes me happy.

We will handle everything else afterward.

If the Baldinis come to Mexico for Grazia, I'll make sure that this time they do feel welcome, and they leave feeling better than they did last time.

This is just one small way I can make up to Grazia for all of the shit I put her through.

She has never made me feel guilty for it, but I still lie awake and wish that I had been better to her.

I leave the house to go for my jog, but make a mental note to get Grazia a new cell phone.

Hers was left behind in the US, and she might as well get one that works here in Mexico.

I want her to have the freedom to come and go as she pleases, and to speak to whoever she wants to, whenever she chooses.

The most important part of our relationship now is to undo the damage from her being my captive.